– ‣ Despite a significant win against the Kings, the Houston Rockets faced a setback with star Alperen Sengun suffering a severe ankle sprain and bone bruise in his knee, casting doubt on his return before the season ends.
– ‣ The injury occurred during a crucial moment in the game against the Kings, with Sengun landing awkwardly after attempting to stop a layup, leading to him being removed in a wheelchair.
– ‣ The Rockets are preparing for their next game against the San Antonio Spurs, aiming for their fourth consecutive road win, despite potentially losing Sengun for the rest of the season.
ESPN Sources: Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has escaped major injury on his lower right leg, suffering a severely sprained ankle and a bone bruise on his knee. Sengun’s been one of breakout stars in the league this year, averaging 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
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Oh boy, Sunday was a rollercoaster for the Rockets, wasn’t it? They pulled off a stunning win, overcoming a 13-point deficit to beat the Kings on the road. But, oh, the cost! Alperen Sengun, their Turkish star, took a nasty fall. Late in the fourth quarter, too. Talk about bad timing.
The drama unfolded with less than a minute to go. Houston was up by 8, feeling good, when suddenly, Domantas Sabonis of the Kings swiped the ball. He dashed down the court for a layup. Sengun, bless his heart, chased him down. In the process, he fouled Sabonis and then… bam! An awkward landing.
Sengun was down. And not just the “give me a sec” down. He stayed on the ground long enough to worry everyone. Eventually, they had to wheel him off. The crowd was silent, the kind of silence that screams, “This is bad.” We all thought he was done for the season.
Then came Monday, with a bit of light. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that Sengun’s injury wasn’t as dire as feared. A severely sprained ankle and a bone bruise on his knee. Considering how it looked, that’s almost good news. Sengun’s been a breakout star this year, averaging 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. A sigh of relief, but still, no clear return date.
Coach Ime Udoka tried to keep spirits high. He insisted the win still meant a lot, even with Sengun’s injury. It was a significant road victory, and Sengun played a huge part in it. Before he got injured, he dropped 14 points. This season, he’s been on fire, with a career-high average of 21.2 points.
Fred VanVleet, Sengun’s teammate, chimed in with some wisdom. Injuries are part of the game, he said. Tough to see, especially for the younger players who aren’t used to it. It’s a harsh reality of the sport.
Now, looking ahead, the Rockets are eyeing their fourth consecutive road win. They’re set to face the Spurs in San Antonio this Tuesday. Despite potentially losing Sengun for a while, the team’s morale is high. They’ve been on a roll, after all.
The Spurs, meanwhile, are in a rough spot. They recently fell to the Golden State Warriors and are languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 14-51 record. Coach Gregg Popovich admitted they deserved the loss, reflecting on the simple truths of the game.
Both Texan teams will clash at 6:30pm CST at the AT&T Center this Tuesday. The Rockets are hungry for a win, hoping to boost their playoff chances. It’s going to be an interesting match, for sure.
